SuperCoach NRL Cheapie Bible: 11 rookies added

It is never too early to start the hunt for quality SuperCoach NRL cheapies. Begin your study here.

Bronson Xerri (Sharks)

Position: Centre/wing

Price: $168,100

Former Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan dropped the SuperCoach quote of the year in November when he proclaimed: "I would have played him in first grade this year (2018) but he wasn't old enough. You've got to be 18 now". Of course, Flanagan is no longer the coach and it's unknown how highly Xerri is rated by interim coach John Morris.

But one thing is for sure - backline spots are open following the exits of Jesse Ramien, Edrick Lee and Ricky Leutele, with Josh Morris the only addition. If fit, Xerri will play first grade at some stage in 2019.

One of these cheapies will score Corey Norman's vacant halves spot at Parramatta. Salmon is the more likely after playing five matches at the back end of last year for an average of 25 points per game. However, that number is down due to playing two games off the bench for an average of 15 minutes and he therefore remains in the cheapie range for 2019.

Brown is so highly-rated the Warriors attempted to poach him to replace Cronulla-bound Shaun Johnson, which prompted a stern reaction from the Eels that their star youngster is signed until 2020 and not for sale.

Jaeman Salmon played five games last year.

Kurt Mann (Knights)

Position: Five-eighth, centre/wing

Price: $258,900

The former Dragons and Storm utility has huge room for improvement after signing for the Knights, who have earmarked him as a starting hooker. Mann averaged just 41 minutes as a utility at the Dragons last year and therefore starts cheap, but his game time and work rate should improve significantly if handed the No.9 jersey.

Kurt Mann (centre) has joined the Knights.

Bryce Cartwright (Titans)

Position: Back row, five-eighth

Price: $231,300

He's burned us two years in a row but a Cheapie Bible wouldn't be complete without Carty. He started 2018 as the most popular player in SuperCoach after moving from the Panthers to the Titans with the promise of a "roving lock" role. However, he went on to notch an average of just 24.7 in 14 games.

It was a similar story in 2017 when he came into the season as a buzz buy but only played 12 games at an average of 29.3. So why do we keep coming back to Carty? Because of his 2016 heroics, where he finished as the second highest point scorer behind Cameron Smith.

The Broncos young gun burst on to the scene with a brilliant 65 on debut in round 11 last year. He played 77 minutes at centre after being injected early from the bench in place of the injured Tom Opacic, notching a try and last-touch assist against the best defence in the competition, the Roosters.

The buzz had barely subsided when Staggs bettered his debut performance four matches later, notching 68 in only 27 minutes against the Titans and emphatically passing the eye test. However, despite these two standout games, Staggs starts close to bottom dollar ($258,500) due to limited game time, averaging 27.6 points in 27 minutes per match.

He has a huge chance to improve on these stats given the Broncos have openings in both the backs and forwards with Josh McGuire, Korbin Sims, Sam Thaiday, Jonus Pearson and Opacic no longer at the club. We currently have him pencilled in for a bench spot, but he could earn a starting spot with just one injury. Equally adept at centre or edge back row, Staggs has the added bonus of dual-position flexibility.

Scott Drinkwater (Storm)

Position: Fullback

Price: $219,400

Another contender for Billy Slater's fullback spot. Drinkwater filled in for Slater in the final regular season round last year when the legendary fullback took a break for family reasons. And it's fair to say Drinkwater killed it, notching a try, linebreak and eight tackle busts for 67 points.

Drinkwater's performance, coupled with his powerful showings for Easts Tigers, scored him a two-year contract extension at the Storm. Drinkwater faces stiff competition for the fullback spot from Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen (seel below). He also starts above bottom dollar following his stunning debut.

Scott Drinkwater had a strong debut for the Storm.

Nathaniel Roache (Warriors)

Position: Hooker, centre/wing

Price: $246,000

The Warriors utility missed the entire 2018 season due to a back injury and therefore starts cheap for 2019. Roache is considered the long-term replacement for Issac Luke at hooker, although it's unclear where he fits for 2019 after Luke signed a one-year extension late last year. Roache has played 17 of 20 NRL games from the bench, proving a worthy utility and filling multiple positions including fullback, centre, wing and hooker.

However, although he has the blinding acceleration to play outside backs, his long-term position is hooker. He has averaged 42 in the three games he has started at No. 9 over his career. Roache's SuperCoach potential was highlighted in round 22 of 2017 when he scored 102 in just 40 minutes, switching between wing and hooker during the game.

Taane Milne (Warriors)

Position: Centre/wing

Price: $181,100

Came into last season as one of the most popular cheapies in the game, but his season was over almost before it started after failing a drugs test and being sacked by the Tigers. Milne didn't play a single NRL game last year and he therefore starts at a cheapie price and has a new start at the Warriors.

The numbers all add up for Milne. His price is based on limited showings as a bench utility in 2017 at the Dragons, where he averaged a lowly 18 in 29 minutes per game. He therefore starts at a bargain price, while stints on the interchange mean he has earned valuable dual positioning in the backs and forwards. Milne was a wrecking machine on the right edge for Fiji in the World Cup and his game is perfectly suited to SuperCoach scoring. In fact, Milne was a revelation in his debut season in 2016 when he averaged a keeper-like 54 over seven games.

Taane Milne copped a drugs ban last year.

Emre Guler (Raiders)

Position: FRF

Price: $227,100

Canberra's pack will be without giants Shannon Boyd and Junior Paulo in 2019 but Guler is shaping as a ready-made replacement. Standing at 191cm and weighing 110kg, Guler will push for a regular start in Ricky Stuart's 17. The Sydney born prop earned state and national representative honours, playing in the Emerging Origin game and for the Junior Kangaroos in 2018.

Jai Whitbread (Titans)

Position: Prop

Price: $181,100

Whitbread doesn't like talking about the fact he was born in Queensland because he has since gone on to represent NSW at the under 16s and 18s level. The young forward played one game of NRL last year and with an impressive pre-season could land him a bench spot in 2019. He made the 30 man roster for the Titans.

Zac Lomax (Dragons)

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor with youngster Zac Lomax.

Position: Centre/Wing

Price: $196,900

Memo to Zac Lomax - you owe me and 20,805 other SuperCoaches who invested in your potential last year. Luckily, the man Blues coach Brad Fittler calls 'The Gifted One' has more than enough ability to make it up to us in 2019. Injuries cruelled much of 2018 for Lomax but the big outside back still managed eight games for the Dragons in NSW Cup scoring seven tries, setting up three more and busting 18 tackles.

Still well in the cheapie bargain bin thanks to playing just two matches in the NRL last year (one of those a five minute zero point cameo off the bench in round 10 and the other a full 80 minutes in round 25 where he scored 43 points with four goals and a last touch), Lomax looks to have the inside running for a starting gig in the Dragons' depleted backline.

Kyle Flanagan (Sharks)

Kyle Flanagan could earn a first grade spot this year. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Position: Five-eighth/HFB

Price: $213,300

With Matt Moylan set to vacate his halves position to cover for the NFL-bound Valentine Holmes, Flanagan must have fancied his chances of adding to his 2018 tally of one first grade game. So you can imagine he might have felt a little aggrieved when his father Shane Flanagan, Cronulla's recently banned coach, went out and recruited star half Shaun Johnson to the Sharks.

Before his suspension, Flanagan the elder indicated he sees a role in the first grade team for his son in 2019. "Well it will be Kyle and Johnson, Chad (Townsend the incumbent first grade half) and Johnson, so that's Chad or Kyle off the bench - something like that can happen. I haven't got another hooker. I don't really want to carry another hooker on the bench so I need some utility value with my 6, 7 and even 9 if I have to." Another string to Flanagan's bow is his goalkicking - an area of weakness for the Sharks - with the youngster slotting 72 goals at 72 per cent accuracy in the NSW Cup in 2018.

Corey Allan (Rabbitohs)

Position: FLB

Price: $168,100

How good is Allan? In 2018 he become the first player to be picked in the Prime Minister's XIII before making his NRL debut. Tagged as a future Queensland Origin representative from a young age, Allan played Queensland under 20s (2017) and under 18s (2016) and Junior Kangaroos in 2017 and 2018.

When asked to step up against men in the Intrust Super Cup Allan did not disappoint. In 17 games he averaged over 100 running metres per game and scored nine tries, assisting in six more and busting 62 tackles.

Payne Haas pictured at the Broncos first training session at Purtell Park on 3 December 2018. Picture: AAP Image

Payne Haas (Broncos)

Position: FRF

Price: $181,100

A big man with a big future, Haas played three games off the bench for the Broncos between round 8-10, though he only played 37 total minutes across those three matches. In round 10 Haas suffered a dislocated shoulder which ended his season but in seven games before that Haas averaged 4.7 tackle breaks and a little better than one offload per game. Pencilled in for at least a bench role to start the season, Haas should be a good slow-burn money maker in 2019.

Albert Hopoate (Sea Eagles)

Position: FLB/CTW

Price: $168,100

The son of John and brother of Canterbury star Will has been rewarded for his form in the NSW junior competitions over the past two seasons with selection in Manly's NRL squad for 2019. Having knocked back a chance to represent Australia at the Olympics in Rugby Sevens, Hopoate is a genuine chance to nab a place on the wing for Manly so start the season and were he to do so would be very hard to omit from your squad to start the year.

Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles)

Position: 2RF

Price: $168,100

A Penrith junior and member of the Panthers' premiership-winning U20s team in 2015 and their 2017 Intrust NSW Cup premiership winning side, Waddell's move to Manly may be the change the hardworking backrower needs in order to make the move up to NRL.

Before Waddell's season was cut short just nine games into 2018 he posted impressive NSW Cup numbers averaging 30 tackles per game, 14.7 runs per game - for a return of 147 metres (55 of which came after contact) and 4.2 tackle breaks. Depth is a real issue for the Sea Eagles in 2019 and Waddell must fancy his chances of finally cracking the NRL in 2019.

Hayze Perham (Warriors)

Hayze Perham of the Warriors.

Position: FLB/HFB

Price: $168,100

A star at fullback for the Warriors' NSW Cup side in 2018, Perham has been earmarked as a potential replacement for departing halfback Shaun Johnson in 2019. A schoolboy rugby union star, Perham played 21 games in the NSW Cup last year scoring six tries, assisting in eight more, averaging just under three tackle breaks and 121 running metres per game.

Perhaps not quite the natural replacement for Johnson as the name below, the Warriors are well aware of the talent he possesses and the threat that union presents as the code seeks to lure him back to the 15 man game and will be keen to blood him in the NRL sooner rather than later.

Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors)

Position: HFB/Five-eighth

Price: $168,100

The other youngster named most often when discussion turns to replacements for Shaun Johnson is 2017 NYC Player of the Year Harris-Tavita. The youngster stepped up to NSW Cup in 2018 playing 20 matches at five-eighth and impressed with both a dangerous running game that saw him cross for seven tries and a passing game that saw him record nine try assists and 10 line break assists. CHT also brings a more than handy kicking game, which may give him the edge over Perham.

Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm)

Position: FLB

Price: $168,100

A former Balmain junior, Papenhuyzen earned junior Origin and Australian schoolboy honours before being snaffled by the Storm as a potential long-term replacement for recently retired fullback Billy Slater. Papenhuyzen spent 2018 training with the Storm during the week and then flying up to Queensland to play for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Intrust Super Cup.

In his 15 appearances for the Falcons, Papenhuyzen scored three tries, assisted nine and busted 52 tackles on his way to averaging 122 running metres per game. The Storm have plenty of options at fullback with Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Scott Drinkwater all in the running, so Papenhuyzen is one for your watchlist as opposed to team list to start 2019.

He's not a like-for-like replacement for Semi Radradra but the comparisons are coming in thick and fast. It's easy to see why when the Fijian flyer is 192cm tall and weighs 103kg. Like Semi before him, Sivo has been making a habit of trampling over his opponents on the way to the tryline.

Caleb Aekins (Panthers)

Position: Fullback

Price: $217,100

The Penrith youngster had a cracker of a 2018 season which saw him claim Intrust Super Premiership Player of the Year honours in his first season in reserve grade. Aekins made the most runs of any player in the competition - and it wasn't even close. In 23 matches, Aekins ran 436 times netting 4,306 metres (936 of these kick return metres), 1280 post contact metres, 10 linebreaks, 26 offloads and an incredible 111 tackle breaks.

Aekins also played one game in the NRL in round 18 2018, making 277 metres, seven tackle breaks and a linebreak against the Sharks. Competition for the fullback position is fierce at the Panthers with Kiwi international Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and future star Dylan Edwards both having strong claims but Penrith surely cannot leave this young kid in NSW Cup for much longer.

The son of bush footy legend and former Balmain Tiger William "Bubba" Kennedy, the Bathurst junior was a standout in Cronulla's minor-premiership winning Holden Cup side in 2017. He took the next step this season, starring at the back for Newtown in NSW Cup with 14 tries and 15 try assists in 25 games along with 12 linebreaks, 16 linebreak assists and 65 tackle breaks.

Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)

Patrick Carrigan for Queensland Under 20s. Picture: Peter Wallis

Position: FRF/2RF

Price: $168,100

A versatile forward, the hard running Queenslander played 21 games for Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the Queensland Cup in 2018 rotating between second row, prop and lock. Carrigan averaged 62 minutes per game and he doesn't shirk the work making 14 hit-ups per game (for an average of 143 running metres) and 28 effective tackles.

There are attacking stats on offer too with 59 tackle breaks and 27 offloads to go with that base. The Broncos boast a plethora of fine young forwards so Carrigan is unlikely to make an impact straight away but keep an eye on the kid.

Patrick Mago (Broncos)

Position: FRF

Price: $196,900

Still a 'cheapie' despite playing 11 games for the Broncos in 2018 in which he averaged 20 points per game at a PPM of 0.93. More than handy at Intrust Super Cup level, Mago played 12 matches for Souths Logan in 2018 averaging 22 tackles, 100 running metres and a little more than four tackle breaks per game. Despite that, it's hard to recommend Mago over Payne Haas (see above) who is $15K cheaper and scores at a better PPM.

George Fai (Broncos)

Position: FRF

Price: $181,100

The hulking prop has played just two games for the Broncos - one in 2017 and one in 2018 - a victim of Brisbane's forward depth. Fai will be 22-years-old at the start of 2019 and one gets the feeling it is now or never for him to make the transition from Souths Logan in the QRL Intrust Super Cup to NRL.

The big man played 20 games for Souths Logan last year averaging 10 hit-ups and 117 running metres per game. 2018 saw Fai add some good attacking/evasive stats to his base workload with 109 tackle breaks, 21 offloads and six tries. Behind some of those listed above, Fai is nonetheless one for your watchlist.

George Fai at Broncos training. Picture: Annette Dew

Renouf Toomaga (Bulldogs)

Position: 2RF

Price: $196,900

Still qualifying as a cheapie despite having played four games in the NRL last year is the man named after former Queensland great Steve Renouf. The Bulldogs think enough of Toomaga to have tied him up until the end of 2020 and the young Kiwi is hungry for another taste of first grade. Toomaga's 2018 NSW Cup stats are certainly impressive reading with the second-rower averaging almost 24 tackles, 12 hit-ups, just under four tackle breaks and just over one offload per match.

That said the Bulldogs were already strong in the backrow with Josh Jackson, Rhyse Martin, Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Adam Elliott demanding big minutes and then quality recruits Corey Harawira-Naera and Sauaso Sue having joined the team for 2019, so Toomaga is no walk up start.

Corey Horsburgh (Raiders)

Position: 2RF

Price: $168,100

Corey Horsburgh heads to the Raiders from North Queensland with big raps, with the gingernut likened to Corey Parker for his high workrate and Josh McGuire for his aggression. And to add to that high praise, our office resident Raiders fanatic Nick Campton says the kid is 'a weapon.'

Selected in the Junior Kangaroos at the end of 2018, Horsburgh played a blinder against the Junior Kiwis making 18 runs, 32 tackles, three tackle breaks and four offloads. Big enough at 188 centimetres and 100 kilograms to play prop and with a sufficient motor to play lock, Queensland State of Origin Under-20 representative Horsburgh has plenty of talented players in front of him at the Raiders right now but an NRL debut in 2019 would not shock.

Jesse Arthars (Titans)

Position: FLB/CTW

Price: $168,100

Gold Coast recruit Jesse Arthars heads to Queensland after stints in the Melbourne Storm and South Sydney systems. Injury limited the Kiwi-born flyer early on in 2018 and he only played six games in the NSW Cup last year. What a six games they were though with Arthars scoring seven tries, setting up another, busting 17 tackles and even kicking three goals from four attempts for good measure. With the ability to play fullback, centre or wing, Arthars adds depth and versatility to the Titans and it would not surprise to see him make his NRL debut at some point in 2019.

Former Storm and Rabbitohs squad member Jesse Arthars has signed with the Titans. Picture: Richard Gosling

However, he did play one 80 minute effort and in that game made 24 tackles, 11 runs for 120 metres and two tackle breaks. Not-so-tiny Tino turns 19 in February and there are plenty of quality backrowers ahead of him at the Storm so you feel he'll likely be a development project for Craig Bellamy and the Melbourne coaching team in 2019.

Tom Eisenhuth (Storm)

Position: 2RF/CTW

Price: $168,100

Big enough to play 2RF, and yet fast enough to play centre, Eisenhuth spent the first half of 2018 in the backs for Penrith and then after being transferred to the Storm in June played 2RF for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Intrust Super Cup.

In eight games for the Falcons, Eisenhuth scored three tries, made 31 tackle breaks, 16 offloads and averaged just short of 35 tackles per game. As mentioned above, there are plenty of quality 2RFs standing in the way of any player hoping to crack the Storm's NRL side, leaving Eisenhuth as strictly watchlist material at this stage.

Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles)

Position: CTW

Price: $168,100

The bustling centre turns 22 in 2019 and after five years in the St George system he opted to head north to the Northern Beaches to seek a better chance of making his NRL debut. Garrick made 21 appearances last season, scoring 10 tries, assisting in eight more while making 12 line breaks and 55 tackle breaks. There are spots up for grabs at the Sea Eagles right now - keep an eye on Garrick this pre-season.

Brodie Jones (Knights)

Position: 2RF

Price: $168,100

Quorrobolong's very own Brodie Jones is a quality youngster from the Hunter Region rugby league factory. Named on the Knights' extended bench in round 23 as a reward for strong form in the NSW Cup, the youngster may struggle to get that close in 2019 after Newcastle significantly strengthened their squad in the offseason.

However, the Cheapie Bible is not about certainty it's about hope, and Jones' 2018 NSW Cup figures give every indication he'd be SuperCoach relevant should his prayers be answered and he earn a crack at the NRL. Jones played 17 games in NSW Cup for the Knights in 2018 scoring seven tries and assisting a further three. Playing 80 minutes on the edge in all but five of those games he averaged* close to 28 tackles per game and almost 80 running metres.

* I have excised his fourth round match from these figures as he was limited to just seven minutes in that match due to injury.

Pasami Saulo (Knights)

Position: FRF/2RF

Price: $196,900

Another big bopper who has worked his way through the ranks of the Hunter rugby league region. Saulo shone in the NSW Cup over the back half of 2018 and was duly rewarded with three NRL matches off the bench in rounds 22, 23 and 25. In his three games for the Knights Saulo produced an average of 16 PPG at an unprepossessing average of 0.77 PPM. He's better than that though. Across his final seven NSW Cup games last year Saulo averaged 49 MPG (starting at prop in all but one of those) at just a tick under 1.0 PPM.

The Knights have recruited strongly in the front row adding Origin stars David Klemmer and Tim Glasby as well as former Warrior James Gavet to a frontrow cohort already boasting rising star Herman Ese'ese and the Saifiti twin towers, so cracking the team will be tough.

Emry Pere (Cowboys)

Position: FRF

Price: $168,100

The massive Pere had an impressive season for the Northern Pride in the QRL in 2018 and was rewarded with Junior Kiwi selection for the end of season clash against the Junior Kangaroos. In 24 games with the Pride in 2018 Pere was good without being great averaging 74 metres and a little under 19 tackles per game.

The Cowboys boast a fearsome pack of middle forwards with Jordan McLean, Jason Taumalolo, Matt Scott, Josh McGuire, Scott Bolton, John Asiata et al all ahead of Pere in the pecking order. Just watch for now.

Often tagged a 'Paul Gallen clone', Magoulias played 26 games for the Jets in 2018 and his workrate is very SuperCoach relevant with per-game averages of: 29 tackles, nine hit-ups for 100 metres, two tackle breaks and near enough one offload. Magoulias was a cheapie breakout candidate last year but never got his chance, hopefully 2019 is a different story because he's too good to not play NRL.

Braden Uele (Sharks)

Position: FRF

Price: $196,900

The former Junior Kiwi prop played one NRL game in 2017 for the Cowboys and one for the Sharks in 2018 and all that before his 20th birthday. A bit of a big unit - Uele stands 191 centimetres tall and weighs in at 115 kilograms - he nonetheless had a sufficient motor to play a couple of 80 minute games at second row for the Jets in 2018.

The big man has decent wheels to go with his motor too, just ask the Knights' NSW Cup side who in round 17 last year had to endure 69 minutes of Uele which saw the youngster rack up a try, 15 tackle breaks, two linebreaks, two offloads, 22 tackles and 209 running metres from 15 carries - a game that would have been good for 125 SuperCoach points. Sure the Sharks forward pack is deep but should injuries strike and Uele get a call up he's good for over 1.0-1.25 PPM. All he needs is the 'M' part of the equation to deliver.

Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons)

Position: CTW

Price: $168,100

The former Raiders under-20 Player of the Year ripped it up for Canberra's NSW Cup side Mounties with 11 tries, 13 linebreaks and 66 tackle breaks in just 13 games. Benched by the Mounties at the midpoint of the season after declaring he would join the Dragons in 2019, the Fijian international is a genuine contender to gain NRL experience as the Dragons need to replace first-graders Nene Macdonald and Jason Nightingale.

Thomas Mikaele (Tigers)

Position: FRF

Price: $168,100

The Keebra Park product stands at 194cm and at 20 years old is still growing into his massive frame. He has been promoted into the top 30 roster from the development squad this year edging him a step closer to his first grade debut. Mikaele was twice selected to the Under 20s Emerging Maroons after starring in the Tigers' Jersey Flegg side.